Jenna Basso Pietrobon
Introducing the newest lighting partner at Zaneen.
We are thrilled to announce our latest lighting partner at Zaneen –
Jenna Basso Pietrobon.
The unique collection of lamps from Jenna Basso Pietrobon, now available at Zaneen, are a remarkable tribute to the traditional craft of ceramics, deconstructing and reimagining conventional molds into lamps that radiate with unique beauty and charming imperfections. Jenna Basso Pietrobon’s collection also supports a noble cause, with a portion of the proceeds going towards The Fondamenta, a visionary project dedicated to reviving the fading legacy of ceramics in Nove, Italy.
Keep reading to learn more about our newest lighting partner, Jenna Basso Pietrobon.
"I want this work to inspire people to embrace and celebrate their unique qualities, beyond the constraints of predefined expectations.”
About Jenna Basso Pietrobon – Jenna Basso Pietrobon, a multidisciplinary artist with a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia University, examines societal issues through a personal lens, critiquing political, economic, and social systems. Her artistic practice spans painting, sculpture, and performance, shaped significantly by mentors Sarah Sze and Rirkrit Tiravanija. After graduating in 2017, she returned to her family’s hometown, Nove di Bassano in Italy, immersing herself in its ceramic heritage. Influenced by her grandfather’s legacy as a ceramic lamp-maker, she launched “Break the Mold,” a project redefining traditional craft by transforming mass-production molds into tools for unique, expressive pieces.
Jenna emphasizes the value of handcrafted ceramics, celebrating imperfections and individuality. She founded The Fondamenta to provide training and employment for local youth, aiming to revitalize Nove’s ceramics industry. Jenna’s work, including her acclaimed performances as “The Lamp Lady” and collaborations with brands like Maison Margiela, highlights her dedication to both tradition and innovation in craft.
Break the Mold Collection – The work deconstructs and re imagines traditions of craft to produce objects that are novel and beautiful in their imperfection. Jenna Basso Pietrobon hopes this work will inspire people to embrace and celebrate their idiosyncrasies, rather than conform their lives to predetermined forms.
Within the world of ceramics, plaster molds are used to make duplicative objects; the molds are vessels which facilitate mass-production and mass-consumption. Her artistic practice turns a critical eye toward this type of rote production, and asks how we can instead turn the molds normally used to make repetitive identical pieces into vehicles for unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.
The Fondamenta – Part of the proceeds will be going to local artisans and the building of The Fondamenta.
For centuries, Nove has been a thriving center for clay harvesting and ceramics production. With globalized outsourcing of production today, Nove di Bassano has deteriorated and begun to lose the material knowledge that made it a ceramics hub for generations.
Jenna Basso Pietrobon’s work aims to keep this history alive, while helping usher in a new renaissance for the town of Nove. Part of the proceeds from each piece sold in the Break the Mold collection will be given to The Fondamenta, which proposes to reinvest in Nove’s legacy, stimulating job opportunities, constructing systems of support for local potters, preserving knowledge of ceramic production, and creating opportunities for the international artist community to engage with and learn from Italian artisans.
"I have a great love for the town of Nove, and I hope that my work can, in a small way, help bring attention, and work, and energy to its craftspeople and industries. By working at a local scale, I believe it is possible to have an immense global impact.”
Renowned for her inventive ceramic work, Jenna emphasizes the artistry of handcrafting, celebrating the organic beauty within clay's natural imperfections.
Explore the entire Jenna Basso Pietrobon product collection.
Our direct contact is zteam@zaneen.com.
Cheers!
Z-Team
